Sakata Seed America pledges support of the Seed Your Future movement

Morgan Hill, CA — Sakata Seed America is delighted to pledge a contribution of $50,000 over the next two years to the Seed Your Future organization through the company’s Corporate Giving program. Sakata joins a coalition of more than 150 partners to support the Seed Your Future non-profit, including horticulture companies, gardening organizations, nonprofit organizations and universities, as a Roots of the Future level supporter.

“The Seed Your Future cause is an exciting movement for the future of the horticulture industry in creating a favorable perception of viable and diverse horticulture careers available," Jamie Kitz, key account manager for Sakata and Seed You Future advisory council manager. "With a large portion of horticulture’s jobs unfilled, inspiring and raising awareness with youth, parents and teachers to green collar career opportunities will help feed our industry’s future.”

In addition to a monetary pledge, Sakata has contributed to Seed Your Future’s first initiative, BLOOM!, via seed donations from the company’s vegetable and ornamental sectors. The BLOOM! initiative allows schools to easily integrate plants into their curriculum through books, activities and other learning materials focused around horticulture.

Susan Yoder, executive director of Seed Your Future is excited to have Sakata on board. “We are honored to have Sakata expand their already generous support of the Seed Your Future movement. Not only are they putting their philanthropic dollars behind this critical issue, they also volunteer their time and donate their products to promote horticulture and inspire more people to pursue green collar careers.”

Sakata supports the movement in an array of other outlets, such as education via the company’s social media reach, tradeshow booth and display support at events such as California Spring Trials and Cultivate and Sakata personnel support; Sakata team members serve on both the advisory council for the program, as well as the Research Development and Marketing Committee.

USDA makes nearly $2 billion in funds available for producers affected by natural disasters in 2017

Eligible producers affected by wildfires or hurricanes last year can apply for funds starting now.

Agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue has announced that agricultural producers affected by hurricanes and wildfires in 2017 now may apply for assistance to help recover and rebuild their farming operations. Signup begins July 16, 2018, and continues through November 16, 2018.

“Hurricanes and wildfires caused billions of dollars in losses to America’s farmers last year. Our objective is to get relief funds into the hands of eligible producers as quickly as possible,” said Secretary Perdue. “We are making immediate, initial payments of up to 50 percent of the calculated assistance so producers can pay their bills.”

Additional payments will be issued, if funds remain available, later in the year.

The program, known as the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) was authorized by Congress earlier this year by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

Eligible crops, trees, bushes, or vines, located in a county declared in a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation as a primary county are eligible for assistance if the producer suffered a loss as a result of a 2017 hurricane. Also, losses located in a county not designated as a primary county may be eligible if the producer provides documentation showing that the loss was due to a hurricane or wildfire in 2017. A list of counties that received qualifying hurricane declarations and designations is available here Eigibility is determined by Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees.

Agricultural production losses due to conditions caused by last year’s wildfires and hurricanes, including excessive rain, high winds, flooding, mudslides, fire, and heavy smoke, could qualify for assistance through the program. Typically, 2017 WHIP is only designed to provide assistance for production losses, however, if quality was taken into consideration under the insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy, where production was further adjusted, the adjusted production will be used in calculating assistance under this program.

Eligible crops include those for which federal crop insurance or NAP coverage is available, excluding crops intended for grazing. A list of crops covered by crop insurance is available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Actuarial Information Browser here.

Eligibility will be determined for each producer based on the size of the loss and the level of insurance coverage elected by the producer. A WHIP factor will be determined for each crop based on the producer’s coverage level. Producers who elected higher coverage levels will receive a higher WHIP factor.

The 2017 WHIP payment factor ranges from 65 percent to 95 percent, depending upon the level of crop insurance coverage or NAP coverage that a producer obtained for the crop. Producers who did not insure their crops in 2017 will receive 65 percent of the expected value of the crop. Insured producers will receive between 70 percent and 95 percent of expected value; those who purchased the highest levels of coverage will receive 95-percent coverage.

Each eligible producer requesting 2017 WHIP benefits will be subject to a payment limitation of either $125,000 or $900,000, depending upon their average adjusted gross income, which will be verified. The payment limit is $125,000 if less than 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average adjusted gross income is average adjusted gross farm income. The payment limit is $900,000, if 75 percent or more of the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity is average adjusted gross farm income.

Both insured and uninsured producers are eligible to apply for 2017 WHIP. However, all producers receiving 2017 WHIP payments will be required to purchase crop insurance and/or NAP, at the 60 percent coverage level or higher, for the next two available crop years to meet statutory requirements. Producers who fail to purchase crop insurance for the next two applicable years will be required to pay back the 2017 WHIP payment.

To help expedite payments, a producer who does not have records established at the local USDA service center are encouraged to do so early in the process. To establish a record for a farm, a producer needs:

Proof of identity: driver’s license and Social Security number/card;

Copy of recorder deed, survey plat, rental, or lease agreement of the land. A producer does not have to own property to participate in FSA programs;

Corporation, estate, or trust documents, if applicable

Once signup begins, a producer will be asked to provide verifiable and reliable production records. If a producer is unable to provide production records, USDA will calculate the yield based on the county average yield. A producer with this information on file does not need to provide the information again.

For more information on FSA disaster assistance programs, please contact your local USDA service center or visit www.farmers.gov/recover/whip

Sakata Seed America launches new website in conjunction with Cultivate'18

The company also released a new Sakata Blooms infographic illustrating their milestones in the industry.

MORGAN HILL, Calif. — Sakata Seed America is announcing the official launch of the company’s brand new website as the industry gathers for one of its premier events. Completely revamped with a brighter look and feel, and organized for visitors to easily find content, the mobile responsive website serves as comprehensive asset for all industry affiliates.

Alecia Troy, senior marketing manager, says of the launch, “Our new website was designed with our growers and partners top of mind, and we’re excited to now be able to make our extensive collection of valuable resources even more accessible to them.”

In addition to featuring an entire library of imagery and videos, downloadable materials, culture guides and even fresh consumer content, the website highlights new product offerings available from the company. For 2018-2019, Sakata is releasing more than 75 new introductions including new color mixes from the company’s top crops like Profusion zinnia and SunPatiens impatiens, as well as five new SuperCal Premium petunia colors and the Senator iQ begonia series.

Joe Cimino, head of ornamentals division, states, “As our 40th anniversary comes to a close, we look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of our customers and the industry over the next 40 years and beyond; our website is a great start.”

Sakata Seed America is exhibiting at Cultivate’18 in Columbus, Ohio. Stop by to see what’s blooming at Booth 425, or visit the new website to download the new Sakata Blooms infographic which illustrates the company’s milestones in innovation and commitment to the industry.

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